Yesterday was the ASCA trial.
Sadie turned out a so-so performance. She had a beautiful clean jumpers run (despite my terrible front cross that cut her off) for 1st and a Q. She also had a decent standard run for 3rd and a half Q. Apparently ASCA offers 5-point (half) and 10-point (full) Qs depending on your numbers of faults. Her other three runs all had downed bars, which I find disappointing, since I know how well she can run. Those earned her three more 3rd place ribbons. Yay for only three dogs jumping 24"!
Maxwell... The competitor in me is very disappointed. He would take a jump or two, then leave me at warp speed. Once he just went flying around the course. Once he charged through the exit to go find Sadie (hiding in a side room). Once he went 'visiting,' and ended up standing with his head in a bar-setter's lap, nub wagging, hoping to be petted. We didn't finish a single course.
On the other hand, he went farther with me on each run. The last course, I think he took four jumps and seriously considered the rear cross I'd cued before taking off. Clearly, we need to work on value for staying with me in the face of distractions. I'll probably ask someone to walk Sadie around while he runs in class, too, to reduce that problem. I'm glad we have a month before our next trial.
Even though I didn't get the results I was hoping for from the pups, it was still a fun trial. The judge was very nice, allowing me to put Maxwell over a jump on-leash at the end of our last run. (Some woman standing at the exit leashed him when he ran over... Who does that??) People were really nice and helpful about helping me run both dogs. (A mere two or three dogs between their runs) And best of all, Maxwell and I got to meet his 'little' sister!
Darby may only be 10 months old, but she's already built much more sturdily than Maxwell, has 7 pounds on him, and stands about an inch taller. Her mom got us special permission to use the outside training area to let them romp. The two pups ran like crazy, tugged on a stick together, and beat each other up. They were perfect playmates. Neither dog wanted to lose and end up pinned, so there was a lot of leg grabbing, face biting, and headbutting going on.
Thanks very much to Darby's mom, my friend who introduced me to Aussies, and another ARPH friend, who all helped hold dogs for me. I know you all had your own dogs to manage, and other trial-related work going on, but you really made the day easier for me. Thank you!
So now to figure out the where to go from here with the dogs' training.
No comments:
Post a Comment